No role for Seoul in textbook approval process

Kosuke Tomidokoro The Daily Yomiuri Asia News Network Tokyo

South Korea's criticism of Japan over depictions of history and current affairs in textbooks started purposefully in the middle of the screening of the textbooks as it did four years ago. The difference in the current row is that the issue involves not only perceptions of history but also current territorial disputes, and there are fears the gulf between the two nations may widen further.

Tokyo-Seoul relations have soured in recent weeks after the Shimane Prefectural Assembly designated a special day to mark Japan's claim to a group of small islets that lie between the two countries and also are claimed by South Korea.

South Koreans, who were under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, also are harshly critical of Japan's history textbooks, which they say whitewash the country's wartime past.

On March 23, South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun released a statement in which he sharply criticized Japan over the Shimane Prefectural Assembly's move regarding the islets -- called Tokdo in Korea and Takeshima island in Japan -- and the content of school textbooks.

At the time, it was not known what revisions textbook producers would make to their history textbooks, although the Education, Science and Technology Ministry had offered its opinions in screening and authorizing them.

South Korea is believed to have obtained draft copies of a history textbook produced by Fusosha Publishing Inc. when the company applied to have the text approved for use in schools, and used it as the basis for its criticism. But should not the country have made criticism, if needed, only after the screening process was completed?

Japan and South Korea have very different systems for selecting school textbooks.

In South Korea, textbooks for social studies and national history used at middle schools are designated by the government.

But in Japan, textbooks are produced by private companies before being screened by the government. Local authorities then decide which approved textbooks to use in their regions.

The government recognizes a certain diversity in the contents of textbooks to "ensure appropriate textbooks, while looking forward to the originality and ingenuity of textbook producers."

Regarding the territorial issues, the ministry always approved textbooks in which the view of the government was reflected. Thus it is not the case the ministry changed its policy this time in conducting the screening.

Since the territorial issues are diplomatic matters to be discussed between the governments, they should be considered separately from the content of textbooks.

South Korea has hinted it will urge municipal governments in Japan not to use textbooks produced by Fusosha and others.

But textbooks are something to be selected by each of municipal governments based on their independent judgment. That subjective decision should never be affected by external pressure.